Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover


Ten things to see in Paris off the beaten path. The magical and beautiful Paris in 10 places that you cannot miss on your second or third trip. Attractions and unknown streets for a romantic weekend.

As the divine Audrey said "Paris is always a good idea". No matter how many times you have already visited, this city will always find a way to enchant you, bewitching you with the timeless charm of its symbolic places or surprising you with its most unusual and evocative corners. Strolling through the streets of the city of lights, from the beating heart of the Seine to its most peripheral and unknown areas, you will be able to discover something new every time, whether it is a corner of the garden cut out between the palaces, a beautiful building on you never looked up or a little shop with an unmistakable French taste.



Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover


If you too are in love with this city and want to discover all its secrets and most unusual nuances, here are what they are the places and attractions that you shouldn't miss:


1. Sainte-Chapelle

Starting from the city center, the first place I recommend to visit is the Sainte-Chapelle, an ancient palatine chapel once next to the palace of the kings of France and now incorporated into the courthouse. Located in the heart of the Ile de la Cité, this authentic jewel of Gothic art is certainly worth a visit for the splendor of its stained glass windows, which occupy almost the entire wall surface of the upper chapel, interspersed with very thin supporting columns.

Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover

2. Ile de la Cité

Another must-see on the Ile de la Cité is the square Vert-Galant, located right on its tip. Here the triangle of land that closes the island has been covered by a lovely garden, where you can stop to rest and enjoy the splendid surrounding landscape. The place is particularly beautiful in spring, when with the arrival of the first heat the park and the strip of land that surround it come to life, becoming one of the favorite places for Parisians for a picnic.

Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover

3. Banks of the Seine

Among the most beautiful and pleasant places to visit in Paris, the banks of the Seine must certainly be included, which have now become one of the symbols of the city. A walk along the riverside will allow you to capture unusual and fascinating views and to discover pretty parks. Among these deserves and a note the Sculpture Museum outside, a long garden located near the Gare d'Austerlitz, which houses some sculptures made by contemporary artists.


Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover

4. Promenade plantée

Walkers will certainly appreciate the very original promenade plantée(or coulée verte), a long green space located on the layout of a disused railway line. The promenade, which extends for a stretch of about 4 km between the Bastille and the boi de Vincennes, in some sections is raised above the surrounding road and therefore offers an unprecedented view of the city and the roofs of its buildings. The combination of plants, flowers and more or less modern buildings gives this place a truly special atmosphere, in which nature and architecture manage to blend in total harmony.


Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover

5. Parc Monceau

If you want to savor some authentic Parisian atmosphere, you can't miss the magnificent parks of the city. Extremely well-kept and characterized by an unmistakable style, these lovely green spaces are the place of choice for Parisians, who spend moments of peace after work and on weekends, practicing sports, playing with their children or devoting themselves to reading. Among all I recommend the parc Monceau, not far from the triumphal arch. This park, adorned with statues, bridges and Corinthian columns, will strike you with its romantic and decadent appearance will make you want to blend in with the crowd of Parisians who frequent it.

Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover

6. Canal Saint-Martin

If you are looking for a characteristic neighborhood, not too crowded and far from the usual itineraries, I suggest you take a stroll around the Canal Saint Martin. This artificial canal that extends into the eastern part of Paris offers the viewer a pleasant and relaxing view, with the beauty of its green bridges and the cheerfulness of the colorful buildings that are reflected in its waters.


Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover

7. Catacombs

Among the most unusual attractions to visit, they deserve a place of honor catacombs, a real underground mausoleum that preserves the remains of about 6 million people inside. The place was inaugurated in the seventeenth century, when the poor hygienic conditions of the city cemeteries made it necessary to transfer the bones preserved in the mass graves. This tangle of narrow passages and tunnels has aroused interest since its construction and still today its macabre and mysterious charm attracts the most curious tourists.

Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover

8. Rue Cremieux

If you are near the Gare de Lyon, you absolutely cannot get lost rue Cremieux, a delightful little street away from the chaos, made up of brightly colored buildings. This splendid street represents a truly unusual interlude of color between the grays and greens of the city and will give you the impression of being in another world than the Paris you know.


Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover

9. Saint-Germain-de-Prés

Do not miss the abbey of Saint-Germain-de-Prés, the oldest religious building in Paris. The neighborhood surrounding the building had a great reputation in the post-war period, when artists, philosophers and intellectuals gathered in its cafes. Today this place no longer has the fame it once was, but walking through its narrow streets you will still be able to feel a little of its charm. For those wishing to relive the intellectual atmosphere of the place, I recommend a stop at the café de Flore or the Deux Magots, once haunted by people who have gone down in history, such as Sarte, Hemingway or Picasso.

Unusual Paris: 10 places and attractions to discover

10. Belleville

Finally, those who really want to discover a new and unexpected Paris, should not the area of Beautiful city, near the Père Lachaise cemetery. In this neighborhood with a strong personality, you will find lively street-art combined with a decidedly multicultural context, dominated by shops with Chinese signs and Arab bakeries. In the upper part of the district, on a hill, you will find the Belleville park, a pleasant garden that will offer you a view of the district from above.

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